Frozen pole bolt

[meatball]

The pole bolt on my handlepole bracket is frozen stuck. I removed the stops, so it isnt the springs putting upward pressure on the bolt, I cant get the damn thing out. I've tried squirting it with PB blaster and no aval. I've taken a few VERY good whacks at it with a led filled rubber mallet, and I also tried turning the bolt to break it free, it turns, but only with a 3 foot breaker bar, its insane. I took out the bolt with no trouble on my other ski, but I doubt this ones ever been removed.

What should I do? I've made no progress, and the pole needs to come off.

 

[surferdude345]

Blow torch?

 

[meatball]

I might try that tomorrow, I didnt want to bring it out though that close to a fiberglass pole.

 

[keefer]

Why don't you take a drift about the same size as the bolt and whack it with a heavy hammer. I know you don't want to malform the bolt but a couple of licks might break it free so you can get it out.:banghead: Good luck :banghead:

 

[Fathom]

Why don't you take a drift about the same size as the bolt and whack it with a heavy hammer.

That's how I had to drive mine out. It can be done without damaging the threads. The hand is another story.

 

[meatball]

I tried using a small metal cylinder so I could easily hit the bolt, and I really winded up hitting it (and it didnt budge!), Im not sure a drift would make much a difference unless you exert pressure differently?

I'm gonna try tommorow with a blow torch and the lead filled rubber mallet, and if that doesnt work, Ill get a big drift and hold it (with a pair of pliers in case he misses) while a buddy hits it with a sledge (at medium speed) and another holds the pole. Its coming out if I have to cut it out.

 

[IceRocket1286]

try using a brass hammer. its softer than the bolt so it wont damage the threads but itll be alot better than a lead filled rubber mallet.

 

[Idok]

fiberglass pole?

kevin, is this on your other boat?

 

[meatball]

Yea, I thought you might chime in, so I made sure to mention that the pole bolt came out fine on the other boat. I'm almost done with complete teardown (on the silver sqaure), Im working on the carb, its setting in some petroleum cleaning fluid (all internals removed) to strip the paint. Im gonna repaint it, and the motor when that comes out. I got the handlepole bracket off, I thought the bolts were attached on the other side, but they were spinning (I think it was just sealed with silicone, because it popped off pretty easy).

Im trying to get the pole off the other ski (650) though so that I can fix it (take me like an hour, it has some small cracks that I want to dremel out, and fill with peanut butter and then glass over and paint) then I gotta put in some new motor mounts and get it ready.

The silver sqaure is gonna get shot next month, and I'm cleaning the engine and repainting just about everything. I was considering polishing the b-pipe but was worried I might sand off a protective coating.

It should look great all said and done, I'll post up some pics of a before after, Im also gonna reinforce under the handlepole, and re-reinforce on the right front of the boat (a small section is lifting up, about the size of a dollar, rest is sound) and fix the back left corner, returf and mabye get a set of REV's

 

['Crockett]

If I remember right, (and I may be wrong) doesn't the bolt on an early Squarenose thread into the pivot bracket and then a lock nut holds it in place ?

If that's the case, then you are trying to "drive out" a bolt that is threaded in place. Get a 1/2" breaker bar and a socket and crank that sucker outta there . . . . . . .

 

[meatball]

You are correct, but I think that is only on the 90' sqaurenoses. My two sqaures both have an extra nut that locks it instead of threading into the bracket. I just got it out, but with the help of a buddy, a 3/8 adapter (craftsmen warranty!), a hefty hammer, and a breaker bar.